Human private part washing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A human private part washing apparatus includes a base, a toilet seat supported by the base to pivot, a washing portion provided at the base and capable of washing at least one private part of a person seated on the toilet seat, a microcomputer-based controller provided at the base and incorporating a storage media, in which at least one program can be stored, and a write connector, which includes at least one terminal and a ground terminal and is capable of writing the at least one program at the storage media, and a connector cover configured to detachably cover the write connector; the connector cover being provided with at least one terminating resistance capable of connecting the at least one opened terminal to the ground terminal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119with respect to Japanese Patent Application 2004-279360, filed on Sep.27, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a human private part washingapparatus for washing human private parts such as anus and female pubicportion.

BACKGROUND

A flush toilet, which has been widely utilized, has a problem of a highhumidity. In the light of the forgoing, a conventional controller of ahuman private part washing apparatus is filled in with a moisture-proofmaterial such as an urethane and is actually mounted on a toilet seat,wherein it is possible to prevent the controller from being directlyadhered with moisture or from directly getting wet. In this case,however, at an event that a program, which has been stored in a storagemedia of the controller, is required to be updated, it is substantiallydifficult to replace components of the controller with new components.Therefore, the controller of the human private part washing apparatushas to be newly manufactured, which may waste a manufacturing expense.

In the light of the foregoing, JP2002-332675A discloses a human privatepart washing apparatus according to which, by transmitting a program toa microcomputer controller from an outside radio communicating means,various functions such as a cleansing function can be freely set inresponse to an intension of a user. In this human private part washingapparatus, however, a radio communicating means requires wireless typetransmitter and receiver, thereby causing constraint to instruments.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,and provides a human private part washing apparatus in which a programcan be rewritten by use of a wiring and is capable of curbing a noiseinfluence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, a human private partwashing apparatus includes: a base; a toilet seat supported by the baseto pivot up and down; a washing portion provided at the base and capableof washing at least one private part of a person who is seated on thetoilet seat; a microcomputer controller provided at the base andincorporating, therein, a storage media, in which at least one programcan be stored, and a write connector, which includes at least oneterminal and a ground terminal and is capable of writing the at leastone program at the storage media; and a connector cover configured to bedetachable and to cover the write connector; the connector cover beingprovided with at least one terminating resistance capable ofelectrically connecting the at least one opened terminal to the groundterminal.

It is preferable that a moisture-proof material coats the writeconnector and a vicinity of the write connector, and the moisture-proofmaterial does not coat the connector cover covering the write connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription considered with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a human private part washingapparatus mounted on a toilet bowl according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of thehuman private part washing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a connection diagram of a write connector illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a connection diagram of a connector cover illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating the connector cover;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a bottom of the connector cover;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along a line VII-VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 illustrates the write connector which is coated with amoisture-proof material and is covered with the connector cover;

FIG. 9 is a block view of a microcomputer controller; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a human private part washingapparatus mounted on a toilet bowl according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of the present invention will be describedhereinbelow in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, a human private part washing apparatus A ismounted at a rear portion of a toilet bowl 100, and includes a case 1 asa base having an operation panel 14 in which a bidet washing switch 10and an anus washing switch 11 are embedded, a toilet seat 20 provided atthe case 1 to pivot, a toilet seat lid 21 provided at the case 1 topivot, and a washing unit 3 provided at the case 1. The case 1 isestablished with a base 12 as a bottom wall and a case main body 13which is a box shaped structure and detachably and hermetically coversthe base 12.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the washing unit 3 contains a bidet-washingnozzle 31 and an anus-washing nozzle 32. The bidet-washing nozzle 31 andthe anus-washing nozzle 32 becomes invisible, for example are coveredup, when they are not used by a toilet user. On the other hand, when atoilet user uses them, the bidet-washing nozzle 31 and the anus-washingnozzle 32 are respectively advanced towards human private parts of atoilet user being seated on the toilet seat 20. When the toilet userfinishes using them, they are retracted and become invisible, forexample are covered up.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the case 1 incorporates, therein, thebidet-washing nozzle 31, the anus-washing nozzle 32, a water storagetank 30 for storing a cleansing water emitted from the nozzles 31 and32, a deodorizing unit 40 adjusted to supply an air to a deodorizingmaterial such as an activated carbon for deodorization(air-refreshment), a drying unit 45 adjusted to generate a warm air fordying human private parts, and a control circuit board 5. The controlcircuit board 5 incorporates, therein, various types of electroniccomponents such as a capacitor 51, a light emitting diode (hereinafter,referred to as LED) 52 and a connector 53. At an end portion 5 e of thecontrol circuit board 5, a write connector 6, which is employed to writeat least one program, is fixed upwards, wherein wire-connection betweenthe write connector 6 and a connector 300 as a writer can befacilitated.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the write connector 6 is covered, fromabove, by a connector cover 7 which is detachable from the writeconnector 6. The control circuit board 5 is coated with a moisture-proofmaterial 57, which is made of a resin such as a urethane. Theabove-described various electronic components are coated with themoisture-proof material 57 and are isolated from moisture or fromgetting wet. A lower portion, and a vicinity, of the write connector 6is coated with the moisture-proof material 57. However, the writeconnector 6 is not entirely coated with the moisture-proof material 57.That is, an upper portion of the write connector 6 is not coated withthe moisture-proof material 57. Therefore, it is possible to attach theconnector cover 7 to the write connector 6, and is further possible todetach the connector cover 7 from the write connector 6. It is furtherpossible not to damage the moisture-proof material 57 by the connectorcover 7. Because the control circuit board 5 is provided inside the case1, as far as the case main body 13 is separated from the base 12, thecontrol circuit board 5 having the write connector 6 is exposed.

As is illustrated in FIG. 3, the write connector 6 is provided with aground terminal (GND) as a first pin, a transmitted data output terminal(TxD) as a second pin, a received data input terminal (RxD) as a thirdpin, a reset terminal (Reset) as a fourth pin, a voltage source terminal(Vdd) as a fifth in, a program write control terminal (Vpp) as a sixthpin, and an HS terminal (HS) as a seventh pin. The HS terminal isemployed so as to allow communication at an appropriate timing forcommunication, thereby enabling to achieve a high speed communication.

As is illustrated in FIG. 3, the voltage source terminal (Vdd) isconnected to a voltage source 80, and the reset terminal (Reset) isconnected to the voltage source 80 via a pull-up resistor 81, whereinthe voltage source terminal (Vdd) and the reset terminal (Reset) areboth identified as High-level terminals. Meanwhile, the ground terminal(GND) is connected to a ground side 82, and the program write controlterminal (Vpp) is connected to a ground via a pull-down resistor 83,wherein the ground terminal (GND) and the program write control terminal(Vpp) are both identified as Low-level terminals. When the writeconnector 6 is not covered by the connector cover 7, terminals such asthe transmitted data output terminal (TxD), the received data inputterminal (RxD) and the HS terminal (HS) are exposed outwardly and areelectrically opened.

Generally, a human private part washing apparatus is incorporated withelectric components. Further, various types of electric components havebeen installed in a toilet room recently. In such circumstances, amicrocomputer controller may on occasions be positioned away from awrite connector, wherein, on occasions due to electromagnetic waves sentfrom the electric components, there is a higher possibility of themicrocomputer controller of being influenced by a noise.

In the light of the foregoing, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, theconnector cover 7 is provided with a first terminating resistor 86 whichelectrically connects the transmitted data output terminal (TxD), whichis electrically opened, to the ground terminal (GND); a secondterminating resistor 87 which electrically connects the received datainput terminal (RxD) to the ground terminal (GND); and a thirdterminating resistance 88 which electrically connects the HS terminal(HS) to the ground terminal (GND).

Therefore, when the write connector 6 is covered by the connector cover7, the transmitted data output terminal (TxD), the received data inputterminal (RxD), and the HS terminal (HS), which are contained in thewrite connector 6 of the control circuit board 5, are electricallyconnected to the ground terminal (GND) respectively via the firstterminating resistor 86, the second terminating resistor 87 and thethird terminating resistor 88.

As described above, as far as the write connector 6 is covered by theconnector cover 7, even at an event that a noise occurs at a wiringconnected to the transmitted data output terminal (TxD), the noise isconsumed by the first terminating resistor 86, and is attenuated orcancelled effectively. Likewise, as far as the write connector 6 iscovered by the connector cover 7, even at an event that a noise occursat a wiring connected to the received data input terminal (RxD), thenoise is consumed by the second terminating resistor 87 and isattenuated or cancelled effectively. Further likewise, as far as thewrite connector 6 is covered by the connector cover 7, even at an eventthat a noise occurs at a wiring connected to the HS terminal (HS), thenoise is consumed by the third terminating resistor 88, and isattenuated or cancelled effectively.

In the write connector 6, because the voltage source terminal (Vdd) andthe reset terminal (Reset) are both connected to the voltage source 80,each terminal possess a high and stable electric potential. Anyterminating resistances as described above are not provided for both thevoltage source terminal (Vdd) and the reset terminal (Reset). Meanwhile,in the write connector 6, because the ground terminal (GND) and theprogram write control terminal (Vpp) are both connected to ground, eachterminal possess a low and stable electric potential. Any terminatingresistances 86, 87, 88 as described above are not provided for both theground terminal (GND) and the program write control terminal (Vpp).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the connector cover 7 is formed, therein, witha first pin hole 71 into which the ground terminal (GND) as a first pinis fitted, a second pin hole 72 into which the transmitted data outputterminal (TxD) as a second pin is fitted, a third pin hole 73 into whichthe received data input terminal (RxD) as a third pin is fitted, afourth pin hole 74 into which the reset terminal (Rest) as a fourth pinis fitted, a fifth pin hole 75 into which the voltage source terminal(Vdd) as a fifth pin is fitted, a sixth pin hole 76 into which theprogram write control terminal (Vpp) as a sixth pin is fitted, and aseventh pin hole 77 into which the HS terminal (HS) as a seventh pin isfitted. The respective pin holes 71 to 77 are preferably arrangedsubstantially in a line.

As is illustrated in FIG. 7, the connector cover 7 is mainly consist ofa resin-made housing 700 with an inserting wall 701 and a resin-madecover 710 integrated with the housing 700 at an opposite side to theinserting wall 701. The inserting wall 701 is formed with a bottom end701 u at an opposite side to the cover 710. The cover 710 possesses ahousing chamber 720 in which the first terminating resistor 86, thesecond terminating resistor 87 and the third terminating resistor 88 arehoused. The housing 700 is provided with an engagement claw 760 which isengageable with the write connector 6. The housing 700 is made of aresin of which hardness is higher than the one of the resin for thecover 710.

According to the above-described structure of the human private partwashing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention, when the engagement claw 760 of the connector cover 7 isengaged with the write connector 6, the opened terminal pins of thewrite connector 6 are sealed or covered by the connector cover 7.Therefore, especially, for an inside of the human private part washingapparatus in a toilet room, of which moisture level is easily raised, itis possible to assure a moisture-proof performance of the openedterminal pins of the write connector 6 to an appropriate extent. As isobvious from FIG. 3, as the opened terminal pins of the write connector6, there are the ground terminal (GND) as the first pin, the transmitteddata output terminal (TxD) as the second pin, the received data inputterminal (RxD) as the third pin, the reset terminal (Reset) as thefourth pin, the voltage source terminal (Vdd) as the fifth pin, theprogram write control terminal (Vpp) as the sixth pin, and the HSterminal (HS) as the seventh pin.

Moreover, as far as the engagement claw 760 of the connector cover 7 isengaged with the write connector 6, the connector cover 7 is not easilydisengaged from the write connector 6, and further the opened terminalpins of the write connector 6 can be maintained at a preferably highlysealed condition. When a program is needed to be stored, by operatingthe engagement claw 760 of the connector cover 7 and disengaging theengagement claw 760 from the write connector 6, the connector cover 7can be detached from the write connector 6 of the control circuit board5. In such circumstances, the terminal pins of the write connector 6 areopened and exposed upwards.

A microcomputer controller 9 illustrated in FIG. 9 incorporates,therein, an input processing circuit 910, a microcomputer 920, an outputprocessing circuit 930 which outputs a signal on the basis of a signalfrom the microcomputer 920, and the write connector 6. The microcomputer920 incorporates, therein, a calculating module 921, a storage media 922such as a random-access-memory (RAM) and a read-only-memory (ROM), atransmit buffer 925 connected to the transmitted data output terminal(TxD) of the write connector 6, and a receive buffer 926 connected tothe received data input terminal (RxD) of the write connector 6. When aprogram is stored in the storage media 922, the transmitted data outputterminal (TxD), and the received data input terminal (RxD), of the writeconnector 6 are detachably connected to the connector 300 of the writer.

When the human private part washing apparatus A is used, a toilet useroperates the bidet-washing switch 10 and the anus-washing switch 11.Operation signals from the bidet-washing switch 10 and the anus-washingswitch 11 are inputted into the microcomputer 920 via the inputprocessing circuit 910. The output processing circuit 930 controls, viaeach driving circuits 951 a, 953 a, 954 a and 955 a, a motor 951, adeodorization motor 953, a heating medium 954 and an warm air motor 955,respectively. The deodorization motor 953 is driven for the purpose ofoperating a fan which is capable of sending an air to a deodorizingmaterial such as an activated carbon, wherein a toilet air is refreshed.The heating medium 954 is driven fur the purpose of generating a warmair which dries human private parts. The warm air motor 955 is drivenfor the purpose of operating a fan which supplies the warm air.Therefore, when the motor 951 is rotated at a predetermined rotationalamount in one direction (the other direction), cleansing water issupplied to the bidet-washing nozzle 31 (anus-washing nozzle 32) via anot-illustrated switching valve. This cleansing water is sprayed towardsa bidet (anus) after the bidet-washing nozzle 31 (anus-washing nozzle32) has moved ahead. When those components such as the valve, thedeodorizing unit, the drying unit and so on are operated, there is onoccasions a possibility of a noise occurrence. According to the firstembodiment of the present invention, because the connector cover 7 withthe terminating resistances covers the write connector 6, a noise can beattenuated or cancelled effectively.

However, in response to intension or preference of a washlet user or inresponse to conditions of the district or area in which a washlet isused, there may be on occasions a case that a washlet using conditionsshould be changed, conditions which are for example a temperature of acleansing water, an amount of cleansing water to be spayed per unit oftime, a temperature of a warm air from the drying unit 45, an amount ofthe warm air per unit of time, and a deodorization degree. In such acase, the case main body 13 is detached from the base 12 so that thewrite connector 6 covered by the connector cover 7 is exposed outside.The connector cover 7 is then detached from the write connector 6,wherein the write connector 6 itself is exposed outside. In this case,pins such as the transmitted data output terminal (TxD) and the receiveddata input terminal (RxD) of the write connector 6 are exposed upwards.

Under the above-described condition, the write connector 6 is connected,by use of a wiring, electrically and directly to the connector 300 asthe writer, and programs, by which various conditions are set inresponse to a preference of a washlet user, are written by the connector300 as the writer. Here, a received signal from the microcomputercontroller 9 is inputted to the received data input terminal (RxD) ofthe write connector 6 via the receive buffer 926, and a program data isoutputted to the transmitted data output terminal (TxD) of the writeconnector 6 from the writer. This program data is sent to and stored ata predetermined memory area of the storage media 922 in which theprogram data can be rememorized or updated. The storage media 922 can berepresented, for example by a nonvolatile random access memory (RAM) anda nonvolatile memory as a non-limiting example.

When program writing (updating) is completed by the connector 300, theconnector 300 is detached from the write connector 6. The writeconnector 6 is then covered by the connector cover 7 from the above sothat a moisture-proof performance of the write connector 6 can beenhanced. The case main body 13 is then put on the base 12 so as tocover the base 12. As described above, the human private part washingapparatus A according to the first embodiment of the present inventioncan be operated on the basis of washlet using conditions determined inresponse to a preference of a user.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, as describedabove, although the human private part washing apparatus A is providedwith the write connector 6, this write connector 6 has been covered bythe connector cover 7 which is provided with the first, second and thirdterminating resistors 86, 86 and 88 at a time that program writing(program updating) is not required. Therefore, even at an event that anoise occur at a wiring connected to the write connector 6, the noisecan be consumed by the first, second and third terminating resistors 86,87 and 88 and is attenuated or cancelled effectively. Therefore, it ispossible to prevent the operation of the human private part washingapparatus A from being influenced due to such noise.

As described above, any programs can be stored at a predetermined memoryarea of the storage media 922 via the transmitted data output terminal(TxD) and the received data input terminal (RxD) of the write connector6. Therefore, after completing the program writing (updating), it ispossible to use the human private part washing apparatus A in responseto the using conditions which satisfy preferences of a user.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention, the control circuit board 5, on which the write connector 6is mounted, is coated with the moisture-proof material 57 which is madeof a resin such as a urethane. Therefore, the above described electriccomponents are also coated with the moisture-proof material 57 in such amanner that the electric components can be isolated from moisture andgetting wet. As illustrated in FIG. 8, a vicinity of the write connector6, which is soldered to the control circuit board 5, is coated with themoisture-proof material 57 which is made of a resin. An upper surface 57u of the moisture-proof material 57 is positioned vertically lower thanan upper surface 6 u of the write connector 6. Therefore, themoisture-proof material 57 does not coat an entire of the writeconnector 6 and does not coat the connector cover 7. That is, themoisture-proof material 57 does not coat the engagement claw 760 of theconnector cover 7. Therefore, it is possible to detach the connectorcover 7 from the write connector 6. Hence, when a program is written(updated), it is possible to detach the connector cover 7 easily fromthe write connector 6. When program writing (updating) is completed, asfar as the connector cover 7 covers the write connector 6, it ispossible to isolate the write connector 6 from getting wet or moisture.

A human private part washing apparatus A according to a secondembodiment of the present invention is configured with the samestructure as the first embodiment (apart from the case main body 13),and yields the same effects. Therefore, explanation of the samestructure is omitted hereinafter and a different portion is described indetail. According to the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10,the case main body 13 is formed with an opening and closing door 13Mwhich hermetically seals an inside of the case body 13 when the openingand closing door 13M is closed. According to this structure, when aprogram is written or updated, the opening and closing door 13M isopened without detaching the case main body 13. In such circumstances,the connector cover 7 has still covered the write connector 6 inside thecase main body 13. Therefore, in the same as the first embodiment, theconnector cover 7 is here detached from the write connector 6 inside thecase main body 13, and the exposed write connector 6 is connected to theconnector 300 as the writer. Further, a program is rewritten at thestorage media 922 on the basis of the transmitted data output terminal(TxD) and the received data input terminal (RxD) of the write connector6. When program writing is completed, the connector cover 7 is attachedto the write connector 6, and the opening and closing door 13M isclosed, wherein a sealing performance inside the case main body 13 canbe assured. According to the second embodiment, when a program iswritten, as far as the opening and closing door 13M is opened, there isno need to detach the entire case main body 13.

According to the first and second embodiments of the present invention,both the bidet-washing nozzle 31 and the anus-washing nozzle 32 areemployed. Alternatively, either one of them can be employed.

The principles, the preferred embodiments and mode of operation of thepresent invention have been described in the foregoing specification.However, the invention, which is intended to be protected, is not to beconstrued as limited to the particular embodiment disclosed. Further,the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrativerather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others,and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all suchvariations, changes and equivalents that fall within the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embracedthereby.

1. A human private part washing apparatus comprising: a base; a toiletseat supported by the base to pivot up and down; a washing portionprovided at the base for washing at least a private part of a person whois seated on the toilet seat; a microcomputer-based controller providedat the base and incorporating, therein, a storage media, in which atleast one program can be stored, and a write connector, which includesat least one terminal and a ground terminal and is capable of writingthe at least one program at the storage media; and a connector coverconfigured to be detachable and to cover the write connector; theconnector cover being provided with at least one terminating resistancecapable of electrically connecting the at least one opened terminal tothe ground terminal.
 2. A human private part washing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the base includes at least one of: a valve capableof adjusting an amount of a cleansing water emitted from the washingportion; a water storage tank storing the cleansing water emitted fromthe washing portion; a deodorizing unit capable of eliminating odor; anda drying unit for drying the at least one human private part.
 3. A humanprivate part washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the atleast one opened terminal is at least one of the ground terminal, atransmitted data output terminal and a received data input terminal. 4.A human private part washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein amoisture-proof material coats the write connector and a vicinity of thewrite connector, and the moisture-proof material does not coat theconnector cover covering the write connector.
 5. A human private partwashing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the base can be dividedinto at least upper and lower portions, and the write connector isexposed when the base is divided in to the at least upper and lowerportions.
 6. A human private part washing apparatus according to claim1, wherein the connector cover detachably covers the write connectorfrom the above.
 7. A human private part washing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the base includes at least one of: a valve capable ofadjusting an amount of a cleansing water emitted from the washingportion; a water storage tank storing the cleansing water emitted fromthe washing portion; a deodorizing unit capable of eliminating odor; anda drying unit for drying at least one human private part, and the atleast one opened terminal is at least one of the ground terminal, atransmitted data output terminal and a received data input terminal. 8.A human private part washing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein amoisture-proof material coats the write connector and a vicinity of thewrite connector, and the moisture-proof material does not coat theconnector cover covering the write connector.
 9. A human private partwashing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the base can be dividedinto at least upper and lower portions, and the write connector isexposed when the base is divided in to the at least upper and lowerportions.
 10. A human private part washing apparatus according to claim9, wherein the connector cover detachably covers the write connector ina downward direction.
 11. A human private part washing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the connector cover includes an openingand closing door for connecting, by use of a wiring, the write connectorto a writer.